Uzbekistan-China: Dynamic Сooperation Built on Strategic Partnership

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived September 2 in Beijing at the invitation of President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.

After the official welcoming ceremony for the President of our country at the Beijing Capital International Airport, the Uzbek delegation headed to the Diaoyutai Residence assigned to it.

President Islam Karimov on the same day met with President Xi Jinping.

The head of our state congratulated the PRC leader on the 70th anniversary of the Victory in World War II and noted that the people of China have made a great contribution to the success.

“It gives me a great pleasure to congratulate you and in your person all the people of China on this auspicious occasion. We bow before the memory of those who fought the invaders, and for the price of their lives and enormous sacrifices made a great contribution to ending the Second World War. The triumph paved the way for the formation of the new China, and it created everything possible to ensure that China now occupies the place of honor, which the country has taken up deservedly,” Uzbekistan’s President said.

Xi Jinping, welcoming Islam Karimov on a visit to China, expressed his gratitude for accepting the invitation.

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to meet with you. I take this opportunity to congratulate you and the friendly people of Uzbekistan on Independence Day. The Uzbek people who battled fascism in World War II were supporting our people. We will never forget it and appreciate our current mutual cooperation,” China’s President suggested.

The relations between our two nations have been advancing dynamically in the spirit of strategic partnership. The mutually advantageous cooperation covers all areas in politics, economy, trade, industry, finance, construction, science, education and culture. The interaction between Uzbekistan and China have been building on a number of important documents, such as the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, the Joint Declaration on the Further Development and Enhancement of Bilateral Strategic Partnership.

Friendship, mutual respect and trust between Islam Karimov and Xi Jinping are important in the development of cooperation between our two countries. The two leaders meet regularly, exchange views on bolstering the bilateral relations. In September 2013, the Chinese President traveled to Uzbekistan on a state visit. The head of our state paid a likewise visit to China in August 2014. Islam Karimov and Xi Jinping also met this past July at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the city of Ufa.

In the course of the Beijing summit talks, the parties discussed in detail the current state of mutual relations and prospects for their further extension.

A number of major investment projects are being implemented in our country in cooperation with China. The most conspicuous cases of effective cooperation are the Central Asia-China gas pipeline, construction of the electrified railroad Angren-Pap, production capacities set up in the industrial zones of Navoi, Jizzakh and Angren. More than five hundred enterprises with Chinese investment have been operating in Uzbekistan.

The volume of mutual trade turnover has been steadfast. The figures have increased threefold for the last 6 years, reaching 4.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2014. In the first half of this year, the bilateral commerce grew by 11.7%.

Islam Karimov said Uzbekistan highly appreciates the cooperation with China, while ties built on mutual trust and interest have been enhancing across all spheres of interaction.

Xi Jinping stressed that China considers our country as one of the prospective strategic partners and that it is interested in the further expansion of cooperation with Uzbekistan.

The two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues pertinent to boosting the Uzbek-Chinese relations, and discussed regional and international issues of shared interest.

President Islam Karimov then took part in an informal meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the countries invited to China on the occasion of the celebrations.